Partitioned container



May 15, 1956 T. VANDER LUGT, JR

PARTITIONED CONTAINER Filed Dec. 29, 1952 United States Patent OPAR'rrrroNED coN'rAINER Thomas Vander Lugt, Jr., Kalamazoo, Mich.,assignor to Sutheriand Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application December 29, 1952, Serial No. 328,441

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-15) v This invention relates to improvements inpartitioned containers.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a partitioned container which may be inserted into acan or receptacle to divide the same into a plurah'ty of compartments orwhich'may be used as a container separate from such can or receptacle.

Second, to provide a partitioned cylindrical container formed of anintegral blank and which may be compactly collapsed and quickly erectedfrom the collapsed position.

Third, to provide a partitioned or multiple compartment container havinga plurality of compartments of substantially uniform capacity.

Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages which may be veryeconomically produced.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in theclajms.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a structure including a can orreceptacle embodying my invention with the top wall of the can partiallybroken away, one of the compartments being empty and the othercompartments having granular material conventionally illustratedtherein.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the partitioned container of myinvention, fragments only of end walls being illustrated.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating one step in the erecting ofthe container from the collapsed position shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an erecting step followingthat shown in Fig. 3.

PigA 5 is a perspective view illustrating an erecting step followingthat of Fig. 4.

Pig. 6 is a plan view of the blank.

Pig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the structure Whencompletely collapsed.

ln the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a practical embodiment ofmy invention. The can or receptacle 1 is formed of tin and is providedwith ends 2. 3 represents granular material such as ground coifee.

The container of my invention is formed of an integral biank of cut andscored cardboard or container board stock and comprises complementarySections designated generally by the numerals 4-4. Each section 4includes a bendable side wall 5, the side walls being disposed end toend in the blank but severed by the slit 6.

Pairs of first partition members 7 are hingedly connected to the endedges of the side walls at 8. Corresponding partition members 7 of thepairs are disposed end to end in the blank and are hingedly connected at9. These partition members 7 have aligned folding scores 10 permittingcollapsing of the container.

Second pairs of partition members 11 are hingedly connected to theswinging edges of the partition members 7 at 12. Corresponding partitionmembers 11 are aligned ice in the blank but severed by slits 13. Thepartition members 11 are provided With hinged sealing flaps 14 on theirouter or swinging edges. These sealing flaps of the pairs of secondpartition members are secured in spaced relation to the inner sides ofthe walls 5 as is clearly shown to diverge outwardly when the containeris erected.

The blank is folded on the folding scores 10 of the first partitionmembers and the sealing flaps secured to the inner sides of thesegmental walls, as is shown in Fig. 7, in which position the structureis completely collapsed.

To erect the container the partitions are swung to partially erectedposition, as shown in Fig. 3, by pressing on the opposite edges of thecollapsed structure as shown in Fig. 7. Continued pressure brings theinner edges of the partition members 7 into abutting relation as shownin Fig. 4. In this position the Sections are folded upon the hinge 9, asindicated in Fig. 5, to the completely erected position in which thepartition members 11 are positioned in diverging relation thus providinga plurality of compartrnents of triangular section. The parts erected asshown in Fig. 2, the partitioned container may be inserted in a can orreceptacle as shown in Fig. 1 and the contents placed therein.

In packaged coifee, for example, a puncturing tool may be used topuncture the cover above a compartment or cell and the contents of thecompartment poured out through the opening. That, of course, Would applyto other granular materials. In a receptacle which is not emptied onecell at a time a removable cover may be provided for the can or designedfianged caps or end members may be applied directly to the erectedcontainer. I have illustrated a fragment of such container caps orclosures at 15 and 16 in Fig. 2. Such end members may be used forvarious products, for example, candies or the like and one of them maybe adhesively secured, the other constituting a removable cover. Thisprovides a very economical container With a plurality of compartmentswhich may be used when desired without the outer can or receptacle 1.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a very practicalembodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describevarious other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it isbelieved this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embodyor adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what i clahn as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A partition unit comprising two complementary segmental sectionsformed of an integral blank and disposed side by side, each section Whenerected comprising a curved side wall of approximately l in extent, apair of first partition members and a pair of second partition members,the outer edges of the first partition members being hingedly connectedto the opposed side edges of the side wall and having their inner edgeshingedly connected to the inner edges of the second partition members,said first partition members having folding scores disposed parallel totheir said hinging connections to the side Wall, said second partitionmembers having sealing flaps on their outer edges secured in angularlyspaced relation relative to each other to the inner side of the sidewall, said second partition members being disposed in outwardlydiverging relation to each other when the section is erected, the inneredges of the first partition members being in abutting relation when inerected position, end edges of the first partition members of onesection having hinged connection to the corresponding end edges of firstpartition members of the other section, said Sections being foldable onsaid hinge connections for said first partition members into side byside relation with the curved side walls complementing each other toprovide a cylindrical onter wall and With the several Partition membersdispQSfl fadrially .relative to, the Quter of the 2. A Partition unitcomprising two Segmental 'Sections formediof an integral blanltv anddisposed side by side, each section when erected having a Curved side.wall 18D degrees in extent, a pair .of first nartition members and aPair of second Partition members, the enter .edges of the firstPartition members .being hingedly connected to Op- Posed side edges ofthe side wall and having their inner edges hingedly connected to inneredges of the second Partition members, said second Partition membershaving their outer edges secured in angularly sPaced relation to eachother to the inner side of the side wall, Said second Partition membersbeing disposed in ontwardy diyerging relation when the section iserccted, the end cdges of'the first Partition members of Lone sectionhaving hingd CQIL- nections tovend .edges of the first Partition membersof the other section, said Sections being foldable on said hngeconnections for said first Partition members into side by side relationwith the side walls in complementary relaf tion to each other Providinga cylindricl lOuter wall and with the several Partition membersdiSpOSed'radiallY relative to the outer Wall of the unit.

3. A collapsible Partition unit comPrising .two comple mentary segmentalSections, each section comprising a cnrved side wall 180 degrees inextent, a pair ;of first Partition members and a pair of secondParfition members, the outer edges of the first Partition members beinghingerlly sprawa? .w ,OBQQSFQ Side Cdgs Of the Side Wall and havinginner edges hingedl connected to inner edges of the second Partitionmembers, the first Partition members having folded scores disposedparallel to their hinging connections to the side Wall, said secondPartition members having their out-er edges secured in angularly spacedrelation relative to each Aother to the inner side of the side Wall andbeing disposed in outwardly diverging relation to each other When thesection is7 erected, end edges of the first Partition members of onesection having hinged connection to the corresponding end edges of theother section, said sections being foldable on their said hingeconnection to each Vother into" side byside relation With the side Wallsin complementary relation to each other Providing a cylindrical outerWall and With the several Partition members disposed radially relativeto the outer Wall of the unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

